Step away from the boxed brownie mix. These brownie-baking methods from some of our favorite celebrity chefs [1] will transform the way you make the classic dessert, and you just might replace your go-to recipe [2] with one of these. From adding fresh vanilla to using a secret technique to get the fudgiest consistency, here's how the experts achieve the best brownie [3] results.

Ina Garten: Coffee-Infused

Ina Garten's brownies are named "outrageous brownies [4]" for a reason (that five-star rating doesn't lie). If you're an avid Barefoot Contessa watcher, you already know that Ina is a fan of adding coffee to chocolate [5] because it brings out the flavor, so if you're a mocha-lover, this is a brownie recipe not to be overlooked.

Alton Brown: Extrafudgy

Alton Brown's cocoa brownies [6] are undoubtedly killer, but his cocoa brownies 2.0 [7] are the real standout. He has an ingenious trick for getting extrachewy, fudge-like brownies: lower the temperature of the oven about halfway through. Alton explains in the recipe, "Proof positive that technique is just as important as ingredients. This is version 2.0 — a change up in the baking time creates an ooey-gooey brownie, different than the original recipe."

Gordon Ramsay: With Fresh Vanilla Bean

Much like Gordon Ramsay's scrambled eggs recipe [8], his indulgent chocolate brownies recipe [9] calls for quite a few nontraditional ingredients. The chef swaps vanilla extract for fresh vanilla seeds scraped from the pod, and he uses a triple-threat combination of dark, milk, and white chocolate.

Ree Drummond: Brownie Cookies

Leave it to The Pioneer Woman to expertly combine two classic comfort foods. Her brownie cookies recipe [10] is perfect for anyone who lives for edge brownies rather than center pieces, because each cookie develops a crispier crust while maintaining a gooey middle.

Giada De Laurentiis: Espresso Brownies

Giada [11] actually uses a box of brownie mix in her brownie recipe [12] (gasp!), but she dresses it up with espresso powder to give the brownies an upgrade.

Mario Batali: Pot Brownies

That's right. Ahead of the 2016 Super Bowl, Mario Batali released his recipe for his double-chocolate pot brownies [13], saying, "In honor of those Broncos, their crazy mile-high city, and their weed-friendly state, I'm offering a rocky mountain high option. (I'm actually making regular brownies but if you happen to be in Colorado or any other marijuana-friendly state, go for the add-in marked 'optional.'" If you're going to make weed brownies, you probably want to use a trusted chef's recipe — just saying.

Related:

• This Is How All Your Favorite Chefs Make Chocolate Chip Cookies [14]
• This Is How All Your Favorite Chefs Cook Steak [15]
• This Is How All Your Favorite Chefs Make Grilled Cheese [16]